Good news for BC's teachers

The BCTF conducted focus groups through an independent research company in January and June 2004. Focus groups are small groups of eight to ten people, randomly chosen. They are led through a discussion guide and respond to questions and ideas as a way to test arguments and messages. The participants of the public focus groups do not know who is sponsoring the research; the participants of member focus groups do.

We held groups in Castlegar, Kamloops, Nanaimo, and Vancouver. Public groups were composed of parents and non-parents. At one stage groups were given a list of 25 descriptors of teachers, some positive and some negative. Participants were asked to choose two or three descriptors they felt best describe teachers. Their choices were overwhelmingly positive. Some groups were completely positive. The few times that negative descriptors were chosen, the participants usually qualified the choice by saying that they had a specific teacher in mind but that they had a more positive image of most teachers.

The most common descriptors of teachers were:

have a dificult job
have to put up with a lot from students these days
trying to do the best they can under difficult circumstances.


	The BCTF conducted focus groups through an independent research company in January and June 2004. Focus groups are small groups of eight to ten people, randomly chosen. They are led through a discussion guide and respond to questions and ideas as a way to test arguments and messages. The participants of the public focus groups do not know who is sponsoring the research; the participants of member focus groups do. We held groups in Castlegar, Kamloops, Nanaimo, and Vancouver. Public groups were composed of parents and non-parents. At one stage groups were given a list of 25 descriptors of teachers, some positive and some negative. Participants were asked to choose two or three descriptors they felt best describe teachers. Their choices were overwhelmingly positive. Some groups were completely positive. The few times that negative descriptors were chosen, the participants usually qualified the choice by saying that they had a specific teacher in mind but that they had a more positive image of most teachers. The most common descriptors of teachers were: have a dificult job have to put up with a lot from students these days trying to do the best they can under difficult circumstances.		All of the public focus groups were supportive of public education and teachers. Government arguments were seen as unreliable. When asked what is happening in public schools, the members of the public identified: larger classes less support for students with special needs loss of specialist teachers school closures loss of libraries lack of support and resources for our students


	Polling conducted in June 2004 by the Mustel Group found that classroom teachers are the most credible source of information about public schools. Respondents were asked, How reliable is each of the following as a source of accurate information about the public education system in B.C.? Classroom teachers came out clearly on top. These polling results confirm information we obtained through focus group testing in January and June 2004. It is unusual for a union to rate as high as the BCTF did in this poll. Over 90% of British Columbians stated that they are familiar with the BCTF. While the government and media have been critical of the BCTF, the Federation’s credibility with the public has increased. (Mustel Group, 750 interviews conducted between June 10 and 17, 2004. Results are considered accurate to within +/- 3.6 %, 19 times out of 20.)		How reliable is information from:


	Not only are teachers the most credible source of information, but the public expects teachers to speak up about the conditions in our schools. In the same poll in June 2004, 750 people were asked to agree or disagree with the following statement: It’s important for teachers to speak out on public education issues like funding cuts, larger class sizes, and reduced support for children with special needs. An overwhelming majority of those surveyed — 88.1% — want teachers to speak out. (Mustel Group, 750 interviews conducted between June 10 and 17, 2004. Results are considered accurate to within +/- 3.6 %, 19 times out of 20.)		Teachers should speak out on education issues:


	Almost two-thirds of the people polled in June 2004 feel that education funding in B.C. is too low. These results are consistent with views expressed by the public and parents in focus groups conducted for the BCTF in January and June 2004. (Mustel Group, 750 interviews conducted between June 10 and 17, 2004. Results are considered accurate to within +/- 3.6 %, 19 times out of 20.)		Funding in B.C. is:


	Polling in February 2004 found solid support for our negotiating class-size limits and other learning conditions. People were asked, Do you agree or disagree that teachers should be able to negotiate class-size and other learning conditions in their collective agreement? The results were strongly supportive of our right to bargain on these issues, with 78.5% of British Columbians in favour of teachers negotiating learning conditions. (Mustel Group Omnibus, February 2004, 509 interviews, accurate to within +/- 4%, 19 times out of 20.)		Class-size limits should be negotiable:


	Last fall, public polling supported teachers having democratic control of the BC College of Teachers. Professional colleges and associations in B.C. are made up of representatives of the profession, and appointees of the provincial government. Representatives are elected by the professionals involved and they form the majority. Thinking about the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation, do you agree or disagree that teachers should continue to be treated as all other professionals in the province, and have a majority of their representatives on their college? Over three-quarters of the public (77%) agreed that teachers should control the college. (Mustel Group Omnibus, October 2003, 500 interviews, accurate to within +/-4.4%, 19 times out of 20.)		Teachers should be the majority on the teachers’ college:


	Our June 2004 Omnibus polling told us that only 58% think that the media is credible. In February 2004, we asked, Have you read any editorials about education in The Vancouver Sun or Province in the last two weeks? Only 17% said yes. Many people read the headlines and editorials in the CanWest papers and think that they represent public opinion. Our research indicates that headlines and editorials supporting the B.C. government’s positions are not swaying public opinion. People all over B.C. are feeling betrayed by this government and wonder how to get their voices heard. Our research tells us that British Columbians share the same concerns as teachers. We want and deserve a quality public education system that can meet the needs of all the children in the province. We want and deserve a quality health care system that can meet the needs of all the citizens of B.C. People in B.C. deserve to grow up and live with dignity and respect. It is not too much to expect, and together we can make it happen. (Mustel Group, 750 interviews conducted between June 10 and 17, 2004. Results are considered accurate to within +/- 3.6%, 19 times out of 20.) (Mustel Group Omnibus, February 2004, 509 interviews, accurate to within +/-4%, 19 times out of 20.)		Have you read a Sun or Province editorial in the last two weeks?: